Body found of missing Atwood man

ATWOOD - Nearly five months of waiting and uncertainty ended for Frank and Ruby Dwyer Tuesday evening when a farmer discovered the body of their son Kerry, 39, missing since Dec. 12.

Ruby Dwyer said about 7:45 p.m. Tuesday a farmer who rents their land discovered the remains of her son in a cornfield about 200 yards from the Dwyer farm house.

'David (referring to dairy farmer David Orr) was taking soil samples of the field when he said he noticed an odd-looking clump. At first he said he thought it was a turkey or a deer bedded down, but noticed that as he approached, it didn't move. When he saw what it was, he notified us immediately, and we notified the authorities.'

Kerry Dwyer, who lived in a mobile home on his parents' farm, was last seen Dec. 9.

After being missing for several days, the family called the police. Since that date, Dwyer, who suffered from a bi-polar disorder, was the subject of several massive air and ground searches by volunteer fire companies, Scouting groups, motorcycle club, private individuals with search dogs and CEASAR, a K-9 search and rescue organization.

One report put him in the vicinity of Keystone Lake and the bulk of search activity took place on the lake and surrounding woodlands. Although a group of firemen had conducted a preliminary search of the fields near the Dwyer house about a week after Dwyer was reported missing, their efforts proved fruitless.

'It's easy to understand how they could have missed him,' said Charles Boyer a partner in the Carson-Boyer Funeral Home, Rural Valley, and assistant deputy coroner. 'The body was in a field with bent over cornstalks and knee-deep snow when the first search was conducted. So really, the volunteer searchers could have passed right by the body and never have seen it.'

Armstrong County Coroner Robert Bower said that when Kerry Dwyer's remains were found, he was clad in the clothing he was believed to have been wearing when reported missing, a T-shirt, jeans and sneakers.

Bower said the cause of death was hypothermia and ruled the death accidental. He said there were no signs of injury. Bower and state police were assisted at the scene by members of the Elderton Fire Department.

'We're just glad this whole thing is over,' said Ruby Dwyer. 'Really, I'm relieved, and Frank is relieved. I'm just glad they didn't find him in the lake. It's a small comfort, but I'm glad Kerry was here on the farm, at home.

'I want to thank everyone who helped us and who put in so much of their time and effort trying to find Kerry.'